Image capturing card shuffler

ABSTRACT

The present invention features a playing card shuffling device, which through the use of a small image capturing means, captures an image of the face value of each card and stores the image in memory. This image is sorted in the format of a bitmap image. The operator of the machine would be able to recall through the use of a key pad, the images of the cards that comprised the individual hands in the previous game. This feature allows for verification of a winning hand after a game has been completed. Thereby, a quick recheck of hands before paying a winning hand is performed. The face value of each card is determined by character recognition software. These card values would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring the randomness of the game and determining the number of winning hands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to card shuffler devices for livecard games and, more particularly, to a card shuffling system controlledby a computer which is able to capture an image, store, keep track of,and deliver random playing cards and display the images of the cards.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0004] Card shuffling machines are electromechanical devices that aredesigned to reorder a deck or multiple decks of playing cards for use incasino games. Recently, games have been developed that require shufflinga single deck of cards into a random order and the delivery of hands ofcards to each player. These hands are removed from the machine by anoperator and given to the players. Several game strategies require thehands of cards to be delivered to the players in different amountsdepending on the selected game. For example, there may be 3, 5, 7, ormore cards per hand in each different game. For security reasons, someshufflers count the number of cards in the deck each time a game isdealt.

[0005] With players at numerous remote sites for the live card games, asecurity problem exists that becomes critically important, as thereexists a substantial risk of cheating and/or card counting. A need,therefore, exists to create a secure environment that permits theoperation of live card games while providing significant security toprevent cheating and counting.

[0006] Pfeiffer, et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,959) discloses anapparatus for storing and selecting cards. The apparatus contains arotatably mounted carousel which dispenses playing cards with rollers toslots of an output port. Cards are pre-marked with known markings, suchas bar codes, so that the apparatus can keep track of which slot holdswhich card. A sensor reads the identification markings on the cards.

[0007] Soules, et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,713) teaches of codedplaying cards and apparatus for dealing a set of cards. There isprovided a deck of cards which is encoded with a bar code that isinvisible to the human eye. The cards are coded using an essentiallyinvisible bar code that can be read by an electro-optical reading meanswhich uses light in the infrared or ultra-violet range. The object ofthis apparatus is to allow the dealer to deal coded playing cards in theessence of teaching.

[0008] The patent to Albrecht (U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,061) discloses a carddispensing shoe having a counting device and method of using. A systemis described which uses a specially coded deck of cards indicating thevalue and suit of the card. The system involves using a special pack ofcards encoded with information carrying two types of data: numericaldigits and alphabetical characters. The numerical informationcorresponds to the card value, and the alphabetical informationindicates the series of the pack of cards. This information is in theform of the bar code, or some other machine readable format. The sensorsenses the code on each card as it is being dealt.

[0009] Hill, et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,893) discloses a carddispensing shoe that has a card scanner. The scanner senses each card asit moves downwardly and out from the shoe. The scanner may be aninfrared laser scanner capable of reading a bar code imprinted on thecards. Hill, et al., also discloses the optical scanning of the cardsresulting in a high resolution array which is stored in memory forconverting into word vectors. These vectors are subsequently used asinput to a feed-forward neural network which is trained using error-backpropagation to sense and recognize the possible card suits and cardvalues.

[0010] Meissner et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,546) teaches of an automatedgaming system and method of automated gaming. An automated dealing shoeautomatically advances and interprets the value of a playing card andprovides an interface to a computing system. Optical sensors areemployed to record the number of spots and their respective spatialrelations to thereby determine the card value.

[0011] McCrea, Jr. has a series of patents teaching of a card shufflingdevice having image capturing means. These U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,605,334;5,707,287; 5,735,525; 6,093,103; and 6,117,012 disclose the need forgame control via accurately collecting and storing the suit and value ofeach card received by each player position. The game control stores thisinformation in a memory so that a history of each card dealt isrecorded. The game control can thus detect winning progressions andautomatically issue an award signal.

[0012] None of these patents either teaches or suggests a card shufflingdevice that can shuffle the playing cards in a random order, captureimages of the playing cards before output, process the images of thecards, and display the images of the cards, all within the confines ofthe shuffler. There is no need for complicated card-recognitionsoftware, or transforming the image into word vectors, or other cardvalue data expressions, because the images are relayed directly to adisplay on the shuffler device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In the essence of security, this invention expands game securityto a higher level. Through the use of image capturing means, e.g., asmall digital camera, an image of the face value of each card is takenand stored in computer memory. This image is stored in the format of abit map image. The operator of the machine would be able to recall,through the use of a key pad, the images of the cards that comprised theindividual hands in the previous game or games. This feature would allowthe verification of a winning hand after the game had been completed.

[0014] One of the biggest game security issues is that of two adjacentplayers trading cards to produce a winning hand for one of them. Thepresent invention would allow a quick recheck of hands before paying awinning hand. These card images would be stored in memory for archivalaccess for use in monitoring the randomness of the game and determiningthe number of winning hands. Such information would be very valuable inmanaging game play.

[0015] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a cardplaying system which shuffles and deals playing cards, and provided witha means for capturing images of the cards being dealt for use inverification, thereby enhancing security matters regarding casino games.

[0016] It is another object of the invention to provide a card shufflerwhich can selectively shuffle playing cards for different card gamesand/or for different shuffling modes of operation, and capable ofcapturing the images of the cards that are dealt.

[0017] It is another object of the invention to provide a card shufflercapable of displaying the images of the playing cards to an operator forverification of winning hands.

[0018] It is an additional object of the invention to provide a cardshuffling machine that selectively shuffles cards for at least twodifferent card games having different shuffling requirements and betweenat least two selectable modes of operation which can be defined by atleast the two different card games, with the added security of cardimage capturing and relaying of the images for each play station.

[0019] It is another object of the invention to provide a card playingsystem which is simplified and inexpensive to manufacture which providesimage capture and on-site image display of the cards being dealt.

[0020] Other objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detaileddescription and specific examples, while indicating preferredembodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustrationand not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope ofthe present invention may be made without departing from the spiritthereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtainedby reference to the accompanying drawings, when taken in conjunctionwith the detailed description thereof and in which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrating the components in operation.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the control panel in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance ofthe constitutional purposes of the United States Patent Laws “to promotethe progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

[0026] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, herein is described a card shuffler machine which is capableof eliminating one of the most significant security issues, cheating bythe substitution of cards. These security issues are more prevalent inspecialty card games, such as, but not limited to Pai Gow Poker. Thenature of these games provides possibilities of interactions betweencard players and/or card counters to manipulate the outcomes of thewinnings. As novel means of enhancing game security are needed, thepresent invention addresses this need by featuring a card shufflerdevice 100 which can capture an image of the playing cards being dealt,as illustrated generally in FIG. 1.

[0027]FIG. 1 generally illustrates a diagrammatic or schematic depictionof the card shuffler system 100 of the present invention. The system 100includes six major components of operation: the controller 10, theshuffling device 20, image capturing means 30, control panel 40, a cardinput receptacle 50, and card output bin 60.

[0028] Preferably, the housing 15 is made of sheet metal (such asaluminum), durable plastic or other tough, durable materials. The keys45 on keypad 44 are preferably tactile feedback keys, and includeindicia thereon for identifying the command the key communicates to themicroprocessor 12 (FIG. 2). The keys can also be made of siliconribber-carbon as is typical for such keys, or the key pad can be amembrane keypad. Controller 10 (and ultimately microprocessor 12)controls the operation of the shuffler system 100 by accepting inputdata from control panel 40, and displaying output data on display 42.However, it will be understood that other display technologies known inthe art, for example, vacuum flourescent, flat panel display, andsegmented LED's, are within the scope of the present invention.

[0029] The controller 10 is a system that controls the operation of theshuffling device 20, image capturing means 30, and display means 40 aswell as the movement of the cards through the shuffler system 100. Thecontoller 10 contains a suitable microprocessor which serves toorchastrate the operation of all of the components of the shufflersystem 100.

[0030] This invention includes novel methods for performing automatedshuffling of playing cards. The methods include shuffling the cards in aface-to-back relationship which results in a random order. Theface-to-back relationship refers to the standard condition in whichplaying cards are sold wherein the face of one card is adjacent to theback of the next adjacent card. Herein, the present invention dismissesthe need for pre-marked playing cards. Ordinary, un-marked playing cardsmay be used with ease.

[0031] The novel shuffling methods further include the ability toshuffle cards in more than one mode and for a plurality of card games asdesired. In the card shuffling arts, two types of shufflers have beenintroduced. One is a batch mode shuffler, the other is a continuous modeshuffler.

[0032] The batch mode shuffler is a device that shuffles a deck ormultiple decks of playing cards into a random order. The deck or decksare, at one time, loaded into the shuffler system 100, usually into aninput receptacle 50. The cards are shuffled or re-ordered and presentedto the output bin 60. The decks are removed all at once by a person(dealer) who divides the stack of cards, records (cuts) them, and placesa marked cut card in the deck in a random position. The dealer thenplaces the cards into a dealing shoe for individual dealing to playersin a card game.

[0033] At the conclusion of each game, the cards of the hands that havebeen played by the players are collected from each playing station anddiscarded face down by the dealer into a discard shoe (not shown). Thedecks are then placed into the input receptacle 50 and forwarded to theshuffling device 20 to be re-shuffled to begin a new game. This processmay include two sets of decks of different color card backs. One setwould be shuffling while the other is being played. This reduces thetime the game is stopped for shuffling, allowing the dealer to play morehands with the players.

[0034] The continuous shuffler is a device that shuffles or re-orders adeck or multiple decks of playing cards into a random order. In the useof this mechanism, the cards are constantly being shuffled by theshuffler system 100. At the end of each game, the cards are discardeddirectly into the input receptacle 50 of the shuffler 100. A dealingshoe (not shown) is generally built into the output bin 60 of theshuffler 100. The shuffling never stops as long as the game is beingplayed or being prepared to play.

[0035] The process of discharging the playing cards is preferablyperformed by the ejection and displacing of playing cards and forcingthem into an output bin 60, for example, as described in detail in U.S.Pat. No. 6,299,167, incorporated herein by reference. Extracting thecards is accomplished by engaging edges of the selected displaced cardusing a movable extractor. The step is more preferably accomplished byrolling the edges of the selected card using an extraction roller orrollers (not shown). The cards are further guided toward the output binvia an output roller. The image capturing means 30 may be placed betweenthe extraction roller(s) and the output bin 60 (FIG. 1).

[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the imagecapturing means 30 may be a digital camera. A conventional digitalcamera employing charge-coupled device (CCD) technology to obtain thelight information of the captured image may be used. The CCD's consistof a semiconducting array of tightly packed rows of light receptors thatcan detect variation in light intensity and frequency.

[0037] The controller 10 has an image processor 16, as shown in FIG. 2,which digitizes the light information gathered by the camera. Thisinformation is digitized by translating the recorded images intobitmaps. The bitmaps will then make use of the digitized information bytranslating it into an image-representation consisting of rows andcolumns of dots. The present invention includes an on-site imageprocessor 16 which further translates the bitmaps into pixels fordisplay on the display means 42.

[0038] Alternatively, the image capturing means 30 can comprise adigital camera (not shown) utilizing (complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor) CMOS technology. Herein, CMOS chips have the advantage ofusing lower power requirements than CCD's. In addition, the CMOS sensorcan be loaded with a host of other tasks that can be translated to theoperation of the controller, such as analogue to digital converting,load signal processing, handling white balance and more camera controls.For example, CMOS chips are high resolution sensors with spaceefficiency capability enabling sensor designs with the possibility ofincreasing density and bit depth without significant cost increases.

[0039] A digital video camera (DV camera) may also be employed tocapture digital video images, thereby reducing steps of videomicroprocessing. The output of a DV camera is already in compressedformat. Therefore, all that is needed is to transfer the recorded imagesstraight from the camera for post capture processing.

[0040] Analog cameras (non-digital) may be used to capture the image ofthe cards. These may include video recording cameras. Herein, ananalogue-to-digital converter may be used to simplify the image data fordisplay output. Any suitable camera or camera-type device known in theart may be used to capture the image of the playing cards.

[0041] Any suitable means for capturing image data known in the art,such as, but not limited to, lenses, mirrors, fiber optics, fiberoptical transmission tubes, optical sensor arrays, photosensitive diodesand/or any combinations thereof may be used to capture the photonicinformation and relayed to any choice of camera means to thereby obtainan image of the playing card.

[0042]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a systems approach tothe operation of the shuffler system 100. A playing card is put intomotion by extraction rollers after the shuffling is performed viainstruction from the shuffler controller 10. Once the leading edge ofthis moving card is sensed by sensor 25, an image of the card is takenby the image capturing means 30. This image data is relayed to the imageprocessor 16. The image processor 16 performs the post-captureprocessing steps. Herein the image data may be converted, mapped,sharpened and compressed. The controller 10 stores the image data inmemory into a non-volatile RAM storage 14.

[0043] This stored data may then be recalled, by way of prompt messagingfrom the keypad 44, located on the control panel 40, for display by thegraphics display 42. FIG. 3 provides an exemplary illustration of thecontrol panel 40 including the operations controlled by the keypad 44and images displayed on the display 42.

[0044] The microprocessor 12 controls the various functions of theshuffler system 100, for example, without limitation, the manner ofshuffling; whether the shuffling is in batch or continuous mode; thecard game, or games, to be shuffled for or dealt, such as Pai-Gow poker,etc. (again, it will be understood that the type of card game is not alimitation on the present invention). The microprocessor 12 can controlthe output of the cards such that each player is dealt either a packetof consecutive cards from the shuffled deck or every Nth card from theshuffled deck, N being the number of players plus the dealer (ifapplicable) at the table.

[0045] The microprocessor 12 operates under instruction of programmedsoftware. This software can either be stored as firmware in anapplication specific memory chip, in a solid state non-volatile memorydevice or on a magnetic disk from which the software is loaded into anaddressable RAM in shuffler system 100 when power is turned on. When theshuffler system 100 is first powered on, the software initializes andclears the display 42.

[0046] The operation of selected commands associated with the keys 45 ofthe control panel 40 will now be described. It will be understood thatany of the keys 45 can be included anywhere on the shuffler system 100,and not limited to the control panel 40. In operation, when any key,switch or button is activated by depressing, switching or the like, asignal is electrically transmitted to controller 20. A predeterminedcommand is transmitted then from the controller 20. A predeterminedcommand is transmitted then from the controller 20 to the shuffler 100via transmission means. The shuffler 100 then performs the functionassociated with the command.

[0047] The control panel 40 can also include a “GAME”. The “GAME” key(as shown in FIG. 3) allows the operator to select the type of card gameto be played. Different card games require different shuffling and/ordealing methods. When the “GAME” key is depressed, the name of a cardgame appears on the display 42. The operator can cycle through thedifferent games programmed into the microprocessor's memory byrepeatedly pressing the “GAME” key until the desired game is selected.In an alternative embodiment, the control panel 40 can include separatekeys for each different card game, or a conventional query keyboard maybe used.

[0048] The number of players may be entered by a “NUMBER OF PLAYERS” key(also shown in FIG. 3), thereby instructing the microprocessor 12 todeal a desired number of hands. If there are any particular rules orother information that may alter gameplay, a “PROGRAM” key may beemployed to make appropriate changes.

[0049] The keypad 44 can include a “VERIFY” key. The “VERIFY” key isprovided so that the operator can verify the number of cards that are inthe deck at a desired time. Via the microprocessor 12, the shufflersystem 100 keeps track of the number of cards that have been dealtduring a dealing sequence. After a game, when the “VERIFY” key ispressed, the remaining cards are ejected out of the shuffler 100 intothe output bin 60 and counted as they are ejected. This number is addedto the number of cards that have been dealt to verify that there is acorrect amount of cards in the deck (for example, 52, if one deck isbeing used). If the number of cards counted is incorrect, the dealer isnotified, for example, by a phrase on the display 42, and/or an audiblesound via an internal speaker (not shown).

[0050] The keypad 44 can also include a key or keys, such as a “GAME”key (as shown in FIG. 3) that prompts the shuffler system 100 to deal acertain number of cards, although it will be understood that any numberis within the scope of the present invention.

[0051] Also, on the keypad 42 is a “RECALL” key that propmts theshuffler system 100 to recall the present hand or hands dealt to theplaying stations. Herein, the images of the cards that are stored inmemory 14 are recalled for display on the display means 42. Along withthe images of the cards being displayed, textual messages are displayedto designate the cards of each playing station, accordingly.

[0052] For example, the phrase “PLAYER1” may be displayed along with theimages of the cards dealt to that particular player, and so forth. A“MEMORY” key may be used, as shown in FIG. 3, to recall the playinghands dealt for past card games. This “MEMORY” key may have subkeys tocycle through the hands, games, and/or playing stations. The images ofthe past games are accessed from the memory 14 and displayed on thedisplay means 42.

[0053] The keypad 44 can also include other keys such as “SHUFFLE MODE”for selecting the mode of the shuffler, namely , continuous mode, batchmode, the game or games being played, or specialty game mode. Thefunction of the various keys, switches or buttons recited herein isintended to be merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will beable to make numerous modifications and additions to them withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, variouskeys may be soft keys, the function of which is defined by the bottomline on the display 14. The function of the soft keys may change, forexample, with the type of game that is selected. This allows for aplurality of functions to be performed while minimizing the number ofkeys needed.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the shuffler system 100 includes anindicator for indicating an error condition. Preferably, a designatedportion of the display 42 flashes to indicate an error condition. Sucherror conditions may include, but are not limited to, malfunction of theshuffler, such as a mis-shuffle or a jam in the shuffler, a failure inthe electronics, bad deck count, i.e., too many or too few cards in thedeck, etc. When the controller 10 receives an error signal, thecontroller 10 communicates a signal to the “ERROR” indicator, therebyactivating the display 42 to indicate the error condition to theoperator. Preferably, the display 42 indicates to the operator what theerror condition is via an accompanying text message adjacent the “ERROR”indicator.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the shuffler system 100 includes adevice for emitting an audible signal when an error condition isdetected. For example, a speaker (not shown) such as an electromagneticor piezoelectric speaker or the like that emits a beep or buzz when anerror condition is detected. Preferably, the electromagnetic speaker isin communication and cooperates with the “ERROR” indicator on thedisplay 42. However, it may be noted that the “ERROR” indicator may belocated exterior to the display 42 and may be included on any portion ofthe housing 15.

[0056] In another embodiment, the controller 10 can be programmed todisplay messages on the display 42 in different languages, such asFrench, Spanish, Italian, etc. A key can be included for cycling throughthe various language choices.

[0057] The display may preferably be in the form of a conventionalliquid crystal display format (LCD). The display means 42 can be a coloror non-color LCD display panel. The display panel 42 may also displayimage and text data in a plurality of sections to show a plurality ofplaying station information simultaneously. However, the display screenmay have a scroll feature to display different screens of informationwhich cannot be contained in a single display. The subsequent screenscan be prompted by a “SCREEN” key, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0058] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particularoperating requirements and environments will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to theexample chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes andmodifications which do not constitute a departure from the true spiritand scope of the invention.

[0059] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been describedin language more or less specific as to structural and methodicalfeatures. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the specific features shown and described, since the meansherein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention intoeffect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

[0060] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to beprotected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequent appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A card shuffling apparatus comprising: a housing,a card input receptacle located on said housing adapted to receive atleast one deck of unshuffled playing cards, a shuffling device adaptedto receive the cards from said card input receptacle and for selectivelyshuffling the cards for at least two different card games havingdifferent card shuffling requirements, and a controller disposed withinsaid housing, an image capturing means disposed within said housing forobtaining image data of a playing card, a display means located on saidhousing for displaying images captured by said image capturing means,and a card output bin adapted to discharge shuffled playing cards. 2.The card shuffler apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising: acontrol panel located on said housing, said control panel having keysoperatively connected to said controller for selecting operationfunctions of the card shuffler.
 3. The card shuffler apparatus of claim2 wherein said display means is located on said control panel.
 4. Thecard shuffler apparatus of claim 3, wherein said controller comprises: amicroprocessor, a non-volatile memory storage means for storing imagesof said playing cards, an image processing means for processing theimage data collected by said image capturing means.
 5. The card shufflerapparatus of claim 4, wherein said controller contains software adaptedto control the operation of the image capturing means.
 6. The cardshuffler apparatus of claim 4, wherein said non-volatile memory storagemeans has the capacity to store image data of multiple playing cards,for a plurality of playing stations, for a plurality of games.
 7. Thecard shuffler apparatus of claim 6, wherein said controller containssoftware adapted to control said display means; said display meansadapted to display images of multiple playing cards for a plurality ofplay stations upon command.
 8. The card shuffler of claim 3, whereinsaid display means is a liquid crystal display adapted to display cardimages in conjunction with textual messages.
 9. The card shufflerapparatus of claim 1, wherein said image capturing means is in a camera.10. The card shuffler apparatus of claim 9, wherein said camera is adigital camera.
 11. The card shuffler apparatus of claim 9, wherein saidcamera is a digital video camera.
 12. A method for shuffling and dealingplaying cards for card games, said method comprising the steps of: a)providing a card shuffler having a housing, a card input receptaclelocated on said housing adapted to receive at least one deck ofunshuffled playing cards, a shuffling device adapted to receive thecards from said card input receptacle and for selectively shuffling thecards for at least two different card games having different cardshuffling requirements, and a controller disposed within said housingsaid controller having a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory storagemeans for storing images of said playing cards, an image processingmeans for processing the image data collected by said image capturingmeans, an image capturing means disposed within said housing forobtaining image data of a playing card, a display means located on saidhousing for displaying images captured by said image capturing means,and a card output bin adapted to discharge shuffled playing cards; b)receiving unshuffled cards in the input receptacle, c) shuffling saidcards in random order for selective card games having at least twodifferent game requirements and shuffling modes, d) obtaining an imageof each of said playing cards before being output to the output bin, e)processing said images, and f) displaying said images on said displaymeans.
 13. The method for shuffling playing cards, as in claim 12,wherein said processing step further comprises: converting said imagefrom analog to digital form, mapping said converted data for bitmapformat, and compressing said image.
 14. The method for shuffling playingcards, as in claim 13, wherein said processing step further includesstoring said image data, of multiple playing stations for a plurality ofgames played, into bitmap images.
 15. The method of shuffling playingcards, as in claim 14, wherein said step of displaying further includesdisplaying said bitmap images on a liquid crystal display.
 16. Themethod of shuffling playing cards, as in claim 15, wherein saiddisplaying step further comprises displaying multiple card images, formultiple playing stations for a plurality of games played, forverification of winning hands.